Farmers in drought-, flood-, and salinity-prone areas are set to gain better access to quality rice seeds as the country strengthens its farmer-centered delivery system through the Seed Network (SeedNet). The initiative aims to ensure that stress-tolerant varieties reach those who need them most.
At the 2025 SeedNet National Workshop, held at the DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Nueva Ecija, over 100 seed production specialists, coordinators, researchers, and policymakers mapped out strategies to enhance seed production and distribution nationwide. Discussions centered on aligning regional seed production plans, ensuring the availability of stress-tolerant varieties, and strengthening inter-agency coordination.
The workshop was organized by the Department of Agriculture through the National Rice Program and PhilRice. It highlighted the Local Seed Support to Rice Production Project under the Rice Seed Systems (RSS) program, which addresses a long-standing gap: while stress-tolerant varieties for droughts, floods, and saline conditions exist, certified seeds have been scarce and inaccessible to farmers. With SeedNet members across regions now engaged in the production of foundation to registered seeds, farmers will eventually have easier access to certified seeds suited for their local conditions.
“Our goal is rice seed sufficiency—and that requires all of us to be accountable. Through strong coordination and shared commitment, we can help secure a stable rice supply for the country,” said Dr. Loida M. Perez, lead of the RSS program.
She explained that regional seed coordinators will identify local needs and match them with suitable varieties developed by PhilRice plant breeders. SeedNet members then produce registered seeds, which seed growers multiply into certified seeds for farmer distribution.
Representatives from 16 regions reported advances in seed production, with the coming dry season expected to release at least 10 rainfed/drought lines, two saline types, two submergence-tolerant varieties, three suited for high temperatures, and one upland rice. Among these, the most widely produced nationwide are NSIC Rc 480, Rc 594, Rc 418, as well as Rc 534—a saline variety valued for its good performance even in non-saline areas and distributed under the RCEF Seed Program.
Participants also identified challenges such as the limited readiness of seed production sites, difficulty in matching varieties to specific stress conditions, and the need to improve the Rice Seed Information System (RSIS) for better monitoring of seed flows. To address these, they recommended creating a national program dedicated to adverse environments, introducing seed buy-back schemes, and expanding training and capacity-building for SeedNet members. Digital tracking of seeds through RSIS was also proposed to minimize mismatches in distribution.
Perez emphasized that the goal is to ensure that rice farmers in marginal areas are not left behind to fend for themselves.
“If irrigated lowland and hybrid varieties in favorable rice-growing environments can be supported by government programs, then farmers in stress-prone areas deserve even more attention. Farmers ought to have access to site-appropriate seeds that will help them withstand challenges and secure their livelihood,” she concluded.
